Ballistic body armor

ABSTRACT

Protective equipment is proposed as ballistic body armor, which equipment has at least one chest protection plate and has slits through which a carrying system can be pulled, which can include at least two shoulder straps. The shoulder straps have a fastener in the end area which can be connected to a fastener on the chest plate. Further preferred is the integration of a back protection plate into the protective equipment, which also has slits through which the carrying system and optionally the side straps can be guided and the chest protection plate and optionally the back protection plate can be connected to one another.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)to European Patent Application No. 17163352.2, which was filed in Europeon Mar. 28, 2017, and to German Patent Application No. 20 2017 101 793U1, which was filed on Mar. 28, 2017, and which are herein incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ballistic body armor for protectingpersons from terrorist attacks in particular.

Description of the Background Art

Conventional protective vests are known for protecting persons fromballistic threats. The typical structure of a protection system of thistype is a textile substrate (shell) with integrated pouches forreceiving the ballistic armor. This has a strictly flexible variantagainst first weapons and of solid protective plates against longfirearms (e.g., AK-47). The textile shells are designed for police andmilitary usage scenarios and comprise a very high level of wearingcomfort. In addition, there are attachment points for, e.g., ammunitionand other items.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,354,023 B1 discloses an assembly intended for removablymounting armor on a user's body in a protective orientation with a basehaving an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion isstructured such that an armor plate is substantially retained inrelation to the user's body, wherein the outer portion is disposed in anoverlying position corresponding to the armor. Preferably, the base isformed of a rigid material. An attachment assembly is connected to thebase and structured to facilitate the operative and removable mountingof the base in a predetermined protective orientation. The attachmentassembly may also include a plurality of connectors and a common releasemechanism, wherein the base and the armor can be quickly and easilyremoved.

A plate carrier wearable by a user for housing an armor plate isdisclosed in US 2016/0003581 A1. The plate carrier comprises a pluralityof hinges that connect a front portion of the plate carrier and a backportion of the plate carrier at the bottom. An attachment mechanism isdisposed near the top of the plate carrier and configured to adjustablysecure the armor plate inside the plate carrier.

The problem underlying these protective vests is the high manufacturingcost of these specialized advanced body protection solutions. The highpurchasing cost is associated with this. In addition, the demand andneed for ballistic body armor are also growing for other occupations andprivate individuals.

CN 201093944 Y refers to a self-defense armor with a hidden chamber,mainly with two plate bodies, which are connected by a connection beltand can be worn on the front and back of the body. The plate bodies ofthe armor are provided with a compartment and a discharging valvelocated outside the compartment. Therefore, when the armor is used, thebuffer action of the armor can be enhanced to ensure personal safetyprotection.

CN 103126126 A refers to a detachable health care and protectionmultifunctional casual clothes which comprise a casual clothes body anda plurality of holding pockets. The casual clothing consists of a frontpart and a back part. The plurality of holding pockets are arranged onthe casual clothes body. A pocket opening of each holding pocket isformed in the surface of the casual clothes body. A protective platethat can be pulled and replaced through each pocket opening is containedin each holding pocket. Each protective plate is formed by combining anabrasion-resistant layer having flexibility, a polycarbonate layer, anda buffer layer sequentially in a stacking mode, wherein the thickness ofthe polycarbonate layer can be increased and decreased according to thechange in the safety levels. The buffer layer can be attached to a bodyof a wearer and is flexible. The protective plates can differ in thethickness of the polycarbonate layer, which greatly reduces the weightand also improves the comfort.

A protective shield that can be worn by a person is described in GB 2210 773 A. It is made of two penetration-resistant plates (front, back).The plates have a reinforced zone which has enhanced penetrationresistance and is located over a high risk area of the wearer's body.The plates may be a polycarbonate sheet and the reinforced zone may beformed by a thickened area of the plate or by an attached section ofreinforcing material. Individual reinforcing plates may instead beinserted in pockets in a jacket or other garment. The plates areconnected by straps whose length is adjustable via buckles. The strapsare in turn attached to the plates.

Although it is also pointed out that these solutions are cost-saving,this last solution in particular cannot guarantee sufficient protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acost-minimized protective equipment for anyone.

The invention is based, in an exemplary embodiment, on the idea ofproviding a protective plate system which is substantially reduced tothe essentials in wearing comfort and which realizes sufficientprotection at an affordable price. The protective equipment should alsobe put on only when needed. The protective equipment is in turn notdesigned for a specific tactical type but conceived as strictlytemporary ballistic armor. In addition, a focus particular focus is froma threat from long firearms.

The protective equipment has at least one protective plate of a materialthat breaks and/or intercepts a projectile. The material can be, forexample, armor steel and fiber composites, steel plates and steel fibercomposites, polyethylene, ceramic composite material (ceramic and fibercomposite), or titanium, etc. These have a special coating. Theprotective plate(s) is/are preferably flat, but may be made with asingle or double curvature. The special coating can be a robustshrapnel-absorbing layer (PU-polyurethane), which is applied to theprotective plate.

The protective equipment has at least a chest protection plate as frontbody protection (chest protection plate). A back protection plate doesincrease the weight of the protective equipment, but at the same alsothe protection of the person from behind as a back body protectionplate.

A carrying system is integrated into the protective plate or into theprotective plates. For this purpose, the particular protective plate inparticular at the outer edges/sides has openings/slits through which thecarrying system is guided or pulled. Preferably elastic belts or beltsystems, bands, straps, etc., with known opening and closing systems,such as hook and loop fasteners, buckles (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 9,354,023B1, which is incorporated herein by reference), etc., can be used as acarrying system. This carrying system is used for direct wearing of thebody protection plate(s) by a person. Preferably, a catch againstunintentional loosening of the shoulder strap in particular is provided.In a simplest embodiment, this may be a section which widens in the endarea of the straps/belts and which cannot slip through openings/slits onits own. Alternatives are not ruled out. The strap/belt catch preventsthe protective equipment from falling off, even if it is deliberatelyremoved.

Further protective plates, e.g., for the abdomen and/or for the sides,can be easily adapted to the equipment by identical openings/slitsintroduced into the corresponding sections of the body protectionplates.

A shock-absorbing material may be attached in addition on thebody-facing side of the protective plate. In particular, several smallpads are suitable here, which are integrated at least into theprotective plate sections that could cause pressure points in a person.These pads in a small as well as large assembly also serve to dissipatethe shock wave initiated by a projectile (reduction of trauma). Thematerial of the pads may be rubber, e.g., foam rubber, cellular rubber,e.g., closed-cell, foam, trauma liner, etc. The materials shouldpreferably be self-adhesive.

As in the apparel industry, the protective equipment can be offered in anumber of sizes. Standardized plates are preferably used for thispurpose.

In a continuation of the inventive idea, a concept associated with thisidea includes storing this equipment in a central location as so-calledemergency or shelter stations, similar to lifejackets on a ship or in anairplane. The stations are set up or established at critical points,which would include, for example, embassies, schools, airports, sportsevents and other mass events, etc. Rooms in these places can also serveas stations. This will ensure that adequate protective equipment isaccessible when needed. According to this concept, therefore, not everyperson, whether in the private sector or in social life, needs to havetheir own protective equipment.

Further, people can also be informed via known digital media about wherethe nearest emergency station is which in case of danger can direct theperson so that he is able to protect himself, similar to the alreadyknown emergency information and news app. In this case, the amount ofprotective equipment available at the particular emergency station andits distribution to persons are taken into account. If necessary,efforts can be made to redistribute protective equipment from otheremergency stations that are not needed to the emergency stations in thedanger area, if the provision of protective equipment is insufficient.

If buyers of the protective equipment are, inter alia, privateindividuals as well, they can, for example, purchase a web-based or appapplication with the purchase of the protective equipment. Such digitalmedia can be used to be able to connect the persons with other wearers(persons) of the protective equipment and/or a central office in orderto be able to communicate directly and quickly information and alertmessages, e.g., about a current terrorist threat, behavioral rules, etc.

Proposed as ballistic body armor, therefore, is protective equipmentwhich has at least one chest protection plate and has slits throughwhich at least one carrying system can be pulled. The carrying systemcan have at least two shoulder straps. The shoulder straps have afastener in the end area, which can be connected to a fastener on thechest plate. Preferred further is the integration of a back protectionplate into the protective equipment, which also has slits through whichthe carrying system and optionally side straps can be guided. The chestprotection plate and optionally the back protection plate are connectedto each other by the carrying system and optionally the side straps.

The advantage of the proposed protective equipment is its convenienceand its simplicity with sufficient protection. A textile shell, etc.,with pockets is no longer needed. The protective equipment supportsdisaster protection and other safety-related situations.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations,and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingwhich is given by way of illustration only, and thus, is not limitive ofthe present invention, and wherein the sole figure illustrates anexample embodiment, showing a cross-sectional view of an adjustmentfitting with sealing of an eccentric receiving space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The single figure shows protective equipment 1 with a chest protectionplate 2 and a back protection plate 3. Chest protection plate 2 and backprotection plate 3 have slits 4, which are introduced substantially attheir outer edges at the top and on the side. For abdominal protection,further slits 4 can be integrated at the lower edge of chest protectionplate 2 and the upper edge of an abdominal protection plate 5. For sideprotection, side protection plates 16 may be provided. Chest and backprotection plate 2, 3 are preferably coated on their outer surface 10,11 with a shock-absorbing layer.

Standardized plates are preferably used as chest or back protection. Thethickness for a ballistic steel plate should be between 3 and 10 mm andfor a steel fiber composite between 4 and 20 mm. In contrast, a platemade of polyethylene or a ceramic composite solution may have athickness between 5 and 25 mm. If titanium is used, it may be sufficienthere to choose the thickness between 3 and 15 mm. When selecting thematerial and the thickness, the carried total weight of protectiveequipment 1 should always be taken into account. The above values aretherefore to be regarded as approximate values.

Chest and back protection plates 2, 3 are connected to one another viashoulder straps 6 and side straps 7. In particular, shoulder straps 6form a carrying system 8 of protective equipment 1. Preferably, slits 4of protective plates 2, 3 or 2, 5 are aligned with each other so that agood connectivity of protective plates 2, 3, 5 is ensured to form aprotective equipment 1. Slits 4 should also be finished so that neithershoulder straps 6 nor side straps 7 are torn during use.

Shoulder straps 6 as well as side straps 7 are preferably elastic andhave at least one hook and loop fastener 9 at least in the end area. Fora stepwise adjustment of the length of shoulder straps 6 and side straps7, more than one hook and loop fastener 9 can be placed or fastened inthe end area. Flaps 12 are placed on outer surface 10 or 11 of chest andback protection plates 2, 3. Hook and loop fasteners 9 can be pressedonto these and attached thereby. Different heights, body builds, etc.,of the persons wearing protective equipment 1 can be addressed by avariable length of shoulder straps 6 and side straps 7.

If side protection plates 16 are desired, these, as well as abdominalprotection plate 5, can also be incorporated subsequently intoprotective equipment 1. The connection between chest protection plate 2and abdominal protection plate 5 can be created in the described mannerby belt straps. Side protection plates 16 can in turn be fixed by sidestraps 7 by being pulled through at least one slit 4 of side protectionplates 16 and by being fastened to chest protection plate 2/backprotection plate 3. More slits 4 can also be integrated into sideprotection plate 16.

In order to be able to provide a certain level of wearing comfort, itmay be provided to attach at least one shock-absorbing pad 15 inaddition on inner sides 13, 14 of chest or back protection plate 2, 3.This serves as cushioning in the case of a threat and creates a softerwearing comfort.

The protective equipment 1 may also be formed of chest protection plate2. Shoulder straps 6 are then crossed over the person's back and pulledthrough, for example, side slits 4 and fastened to respective flap 12.

Protective equipment 1 of this type can be stocked and stored asso-called emergency or shelter stations at a central location/point.These stations are preferably placed at critical points, e.g., inembassies, schools, airports, sports events and other mass events, etc.

In the case of danger, people can be informed by a web-based or appapplication of where the nearest station with the stocked protectiveequipment 1 is located, and can then quickly seek them. This informationcan be output as SMS or the like.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Protective equipment as ballistic body armorcomprising: at least one chest protection plate having slits; and acarrying system formed at least from two shoulder straps, the shoulderstraps having a fastener in an end area, which is adapted to beconnected to a fastener on the chest protection plate, wherein theshoulder straps are adapted to be pulled through the slits.
 2. Theprotective equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a backprotection plate that has slits and is connectable to the chestprotection plate via the carrying system.
 3. The protective equipmentaccording to claim 1, wherein the chest protection plate or the backprotection plate have a shock-absorbing coating on their outer surface.4. The protective equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least twoside straps are provided between the chest protection plate and the backprotection plate.
 5. The protective equipment according to claim 1,wherein an abdominal protection plate or side protection plates areincorporated, which have at least one slit.
 6. The protective equipmentaccording to claim 1, wherein the protective plates are formed of armorsteel and fiber composites, steel plates and steel fiber composites,polyethylene, ceramic composite material, or titanium.
 7. The protectiveequipment according to claim 6, wherein a thickness for a ballisticsteel plate is between 3 and 10 mm, for a steel fiber composite between4 and 20 mm, for a polyethylene or ceramic composite plate between 5 and25 mm, and for titanium between 3 and 15 mm.
 8. The protective equipmentaccording to claim 1, wherein a fastener at an end area of the shoulderstraps and at an end area of the side straps is a hook and loopfastener, and wherein the fastener to the outer surface of theprotective plates is a flap or adjustable buckles.
 9. The protectiveequipment according to claim 1, wherein a stepwise adjustment of thelength of the shoulder straps and the side straps is performed by aplurality of loop and hook fasteners in the end area.
 10. The protectiveequipment according to claim 1, wherein a catch against unintentionalloosening of the shoulder straps and/or the side straps is provided. 11.The protective equipment according to claim 10, wherein the catch is asection that widens in an end area of the straps.
 12. The protectiveequipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one shock-absorbing padis attached to an inner side of the chest or back protection plate. 13.The protective equipment according to claim 12, wherein the at least oneshock-absorbing pad is rubber, foam rubber, cellular rubber, foam, ortrauma liner.
 14. The protective equipment according to claim 1, whereinat least one protective equipment is stored at critical locations or atcritical points, including embassies, schools, airports, sports events,or other mass events for the protection of persons.
 15. The protectionequipment according to claim 14, wherein a web-based or app applicationby which in the event of danger, individuals are informed of where thenearest point with stored protective equipment is located.
 16. Theprotection equipment according to claim 15, wherein a web-based or appapplication connects the person of the protective equipment with acentral office and/or with other persons with protective equipment inorder to exchange and/or receive information about terrorist threatsand/or alert messages.